HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 1677

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Brief Summary of Bill

Allows adult family home operators who wish to operate three or more adult family homes to apply for a license within 12 months of the issuance of the previous license if the applications are due to a change in ownership of existing adult family homes that are currently licensed.

Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 15 members: Representatives Cody, Chair; Jinkins, Vice Chair; Schmick, Ranking Minority Member; Hope, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Angel, Clibborn, Green, Harris, Manweller, Morrell, Riccelli, Ross, Short, Tharinger and Van De Wege.

Background:

Adult family homes are residential homes licensed to care for up to six individuals who need long-term care. These homes provide their residents with room, board, laundry, necessary supervision, and assistance with activities of daily living, personal care, and nursing services.

The Department of Social and Health Services (Department) licenses adult family homes. The Department's licensing functions include processing applications for new providers, performing inspections, conducting complaint investigations, and administering enforcement actions if resolution is not met.

Adult family home operators who wish to operate a second adult family home must wait 24 months from the issuance of the first license and not have had a Department enforcement action against that adult family home in the 24 months prior to application. For subsequent applications, an adult family home operator must wait 12 months since the issuance of the previous adult family home license and not have had a Department enforcement action against any of their homes during the 12 months prior to application.

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Summary of Bill:

The requirement that an applicant for a license to operate more than two adult family homes wait at least 12 months since the issuance of the previous license does not apply if the application is due to a change in ownership of existing adult family homes that are currently licensed. The exception applies as long as there has not been a Department of Social and Health Services enforcement action against the applicant's currently licensed adult family homes during the 12 months prior to application.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) Of the 2,800 adult family homes in Washington, about 700 are owned by operators of multiple homes. There have been situations in which adult family home providers have attempted to sell their facilities to another licensed adult family home operator, but were prevented because of current legal prohibitions. For those adult family home operators who own multiple homes and wish to sell them, they must break them up into individual companies and sell them to individual people. This bill will benefit multiple homeowners who wish to sell their homes to retire. It is not reasonable to require somebody to break up an adult family home business when there is a capable operator willing to purchase the homes. The current law does not promote entrepreneurialism. This bill has bipartisan support and can save the lives of the elderly.

(Opposed) None.